Adjustable switch-bar.



PAT-ENTED MAY 24, 1904.

W. E. HUDGE; ADJUSTABLE SWITCH -BAR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 13, 1903.

VIN) MODEL.

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Patented May 24, 1904.

, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM E. HODGE, OF BRIGHTON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO DANIEL T. MoNEIL, OF ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN.

ADJUSTABLE SWlTCH -BAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 760,989, dated May 24, 1904 Application filed July 13, 1903- Serial No. 165,323- (No model.) i

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. HoDGn,a citizen of the United States, residing at Brighton, in the county of Livingston and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Switch-Bars, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to railway-switches, and more particularly to the bar employed for connecting and actuating the movable rails.

Heretofore various constructions of adjustable switch-bars have been employed. For example, bars have been provided having the rail-clip adjustably secured thereto by bolts engaging with any one of a series of apertures formed in the bar. In another construction the bar is formed in sections having threaded ends connected by a turnbuckle, which may be rotated to lengthen or shorten the bar. These constructions, as well as others which have been tried, have proven unsatisfactory, first, because a fine adjustment is not permitted, and, second, for the reason that the bar is weakened at the point of adjustment and is easily broken.

It is the object of the present invention to obtain a simple and inexpensive construction of bar which is capable of a fine adjustment.

It is a further object to obtain a strong construction and one which may be quickly adjusted.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan View of a switch provided with my improved construction of bar. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the bar, showing same connected to the rails.

A represents the main rails, and B the switch-rails, of a railway-switch of any suitable construction.

G is the switch-bar, which is constructed as follows: a is a fiat bar which is of a length to extend between and under the rails of the track and sufficiently beyond the same to connect with the switch-actuating mechanism. This bar is preferably straight, so that the power applied to the one end thereof will be transmitted directly to the other end without tendency toward lateral deflection.

D is the rail-clip, which may be of any desired construction, but, as shown, comprises the portion 6, which fits within a groove of the rail and is provided with studs 0, passing through apertures in the rail and clamped thereto by nuts d. The portion 6 is also provided with the outwardly-extending ear 0,

which is perforated for the reception of the bolt.

f is a member provided with a pair of ears 9 and 9', adapted to' embrace the ears 0 of the clip D and to be secured thereto by a bolt E, which passes through alined apertures in all said ears.

The member f forms the adjustable member by means of which the rail B may be changed in its relation to the bar (0. Such an adjustment is necessary not only in the original setting of the switch, but frequently during its use, to compensate for expansion or contraction or the creeping of the rails. The

amount of adjustment necessary is usually comparatively slight; but it is of vital importance that the switch-rails be so adjusted as to always fully close the point ofthe switch against the stationary rail. Such an adjustment is obtained by forming the member f with a portion f, which extends longitudinally above the bar a and is seated thereon. The abutting faces of the bar a and the member f are notched or serrated transversely, so as to form an interlocking engagement. The members are then secured together by bolts F, which pass through apertures in the bar a and slotted apertures h in the portion f of the member f. When tightened, these bolts will clamp the member f to the bar a and will hold it firmly in position of adjustment.

From the description above given it will be understood that the rails B may be adjusted within limits equal to the length of the slotted apertures [L in the member f, which is more than is required. To effect adjustment, it is only necessary to loosen the bolts F suflioiently to unlock the member f, after which the rail B may be adjusted into proper position and the bolts F again tightened. Thus adjustment can be made without even fully detaching the member f from the bar a.

The lower ear g is raised sufliciently above the bar a to receive the head of the bolt E. This bolt is inserted to couple the clip D with the member f before the latter is secured to the bar a, and after securing the bolt E will be prevented from disengagement from the ears even where no nut is employed. I preferably dispense with the nut and merely employ a spring-key d, passing through an aperture in the end of the bolt above the ear What I claim as my invention is- 1. In a railway-switch, the combination with the movable rail, of aclip secured thereto, having an elongated ear extending outwardly therefrom intermediate its ends, a switch-bar comprising a straight section passing beneath the rails and having a portion of its upper face serrated, a member having a serrated under face seated upon the serrated portion of said section, said last-mentioned member having ears at its forward end arranged to engage said first-mentioned ear, and means for clamping said member to the bar to interlock the serrations and hold the parts in adjustment.

2. In a railway switch, the combination with a movable rail, and a clip secured thereto, having an ear extending outwardly therefrom intermediate its ends, a switch-bar comprising a straight section passing beneath the rails, and a member adjustably secured to the upper surface thereof, said member having ears at its forward end engaging respectively the upper and lower surface of the ear upon said clip, and means for connecting said ears.

3. In a railway switch, the combination witha movable rail, and a clip secured thereto, having an ear extending outwardly therefrom, a switch-bar comprising a straight section passing beneath the rails, and having a portion of its upper face serrated, a member having a serrated under face seated upon the serrated portion of said section, said member having cars at its forward end engaging respectively the upper and lower surface of the ear upon said clip, and a bolt passing through registering apertures in said ears to connect the same, and means for clamping said member to the bar to interlock the serrations and hold the parts in adjustment.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM EQHODGE.

Witnesses:

H. (J. SMITH, J AS. P. BARRY. 

